Typewriter attachment for handling continuous duplicate record sheets



Feb. 9, 1937. R. J. COPELAND 2,070,042 TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT FORHANDLING CONTINUOUS DUPLICATE RECORD SHEETS Filed NOV. 2, 1935 5Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9, 1937. COPELAND 2,070,042

TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS DUPLICATE RECORD SHEETSFiled Nov. 2, 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I rn/enior'. Roerf [Cafe/ana Feb. 9,1937. COPELAND 2,070,042

TYPEWRITER ATTACHMENT FOR HANDLING CONTINUOUS DUPLICATE RECORD SHEETSFiled Nov. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I11 42 n (for: Roer-t JCa ae/anJ.

Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica TYPE-WRITER ATTACHMENTFOR HAN- DLIN G CONTINUOUS DUPLICATE REC- RD SHEETS The principalobjects of the invention are to facilitate the handling of continuousduplicate record. sheets in a typewriter so that the operation of thetypewriter will not be impeded in any of its movements and so that theoperator may readily interpose other work without having to remove ordismantle thecontinuous record sheet-holding device.

A further andimportant object is to provide a device which may bemounted adjacent to the typewriter and which will hold the continuousduplicate sheets in accurate alignment without inconvenience and loss oftime of the operator and which will enable the operator to readilyadjust the carbon sheets.

The principal features of the invention consist in the novel arrangementof a guide plate, for directing the continuous form record sheets to thetypewriter platen, upon roller members which carry the weight of theguide member in a pivotal support which permits the free verticalmovement of the typewriter carriage, and in the novel construction andarrangement of a rigid frame adjacent to the typewriter supportingsuspended means for shifting the relative positions of the record andcarbon sheets.

A further and important feature of the invention consists in the novelconstruction of the form sheet guiding means whereby the sheets areretained in their relative registering positions.

Other features of importance will appear in the detailed descriptionwhich follows.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating myimproved'device arranged in the operating position connected with atypewriter.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view on a reduced scaleillustrating the relative positions of the several members constitutingthe invention, the record sheets being in the position required tocommence typing thereon.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the positions of theparts when the record sheets have been drawn through the typewriter inchanging the relative positions of the record sheets and carbon sheets.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3 illustrating a slightlymodified form of guide member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the multiple carbon copy member usedwith the device.

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the clip for holding theends of the record sheets in effecting the sliding of the sheets tochange their position relative to the carbon device.

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective detail of a portion of the multipleform guide member.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of the adjustable support forthe upright frame member. Figure 9 is a cross sectional view through theadjustable frame support shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a plan detailof the base portion of the frame support.

Figure 11 is an enlarged diagrammatic longitudinal sectional viewthrough the sheet guide showing the form sheets and carbon sheets inposition thereon.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic elevation similar to Figure 4 showing amodification of the means for holding the folded form sheets.

Figure 13 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the clipmembers forming the pivotal connection between the typewriter carriageand the guide plate.

Figure 14 is a perspective detail of a modified form of guide plate.

Referring to the drawings, the typewriter l is illustrated in outlineand the carriage 2 is mounted to reciprocate thereon. Clip members 3 arerigidly secured to the ends of the sloping paper guide plate 4 of thecarriage and these extend in an angularly upward and backward directionand have the spring clip ends pivotally engaging a rod 5 which issecured in the ends of the guide plate 6 which extends backwardly andupwardly from the top of the plate 4.

Each of the clip members preferably comprise a solid block portion asindicated at 3 (Figure 13) which is shown slotted at the bottom to receive the typewriter guide plate 4 and clamping screws 3 may be providedto rigidly secure each block in place.

Strips 3" of spring metal are secured to one side of the blocks and formtherewith spring clamps, the blocks and springs presenting adjacentsurface which converge toward notches 3' formed. in the blocks tofacilitate entry of the ends of the pivot rod 5 into the notches.

Arranged back of the typewriter and rigidly secured to the desk is amember i which forms the base for an upright frame formed of a pair ofbars 8.

A flat vertical bar 9 is secured to the base member I midway of itslength and .is formed with a horizontal portion in which forms a supportfor a plate or basket support I I for carrying a pack of the folded formpaper sheets. A bar I! is arranged transversely of horizontal portion 80of the bar 9 and is adjustably secured by a thumb screw it which isslidable in a slot H in the member I 0.

A pair of posts I I are mounted on .the bar l2,

one at each end, and are preferably formed with law-shaped upper ends inwhich are mounted the narrow rollers Ii preferably formed of fibre andwith rounded peripheries. The bar I2 is adjusted so that the rollers l6engage the underside of the guide plate 4 approximately at the balancepoint intermediate of' its length so that there will be practicallynoweight resting'upon the typewriter carriage and as the carriage moves upand down in its shift operation, the plate pivots in the clips 3 andalso pivots'on the roller support and the plate may also slidably adjustitself on the rounded peripheries of the rollers to avoid binding duringup and down movements of the carriage. The rollers are spaced apart atthe ends of the bar a suflicient distance so that either one or both ofsaid rollers are supporting the plate in its course of travel followingthe longitudinal movement of the typewriter carriage.

The outer end of the plate is provided with slots I! close to the outeredge and abar ll, extending across the end of the plate, is providedwith downturned ends ll provided with hooked extremities 20 to fit intothe slots II.

A spring rod 2| is secured to the underside of the plate to engage thenotched ends of the bar is extending through the slots to lock the barin position. r

A narrow metal strip 22 is secured by hinge joints 23 centrally of thelength of the bar Ill and extends over the top of the guide plate beingbent to conform to the curvature thereof and having its free endextending past the end of the guide plate to overlap the guide plate 4on the typewriter carriage and to extend well down hehind the platen toguide the paper strip passing thereover closely in under the platen.

A weight 24 in the form of a metal block is secured to the free-end ofthe bar 22 and it is preferably provided with a roller 25 which extendsthrough the top'and bottom sides, so that a roller contact will engagethe paper.

The downturned ends IQ of the bar ll provide a very positive guide forthe side edges of the "form strip as it is drawn from the pack supportedon the plate.

' out buckling.

' threaded between them. The bar 20 with its" with the guide plate bythe overlying bar 22.

resting with constant pressure in extensive surface contact with thepaper forms so that when the platen is reversed orturned backward, thepaper will feed backwardly under the bar 22 with- As shown particularlyin Figure 5, a bar 2. is provided with headed studs 21 at the ends.'Ihese studs extend through holes 28. cut in the backing sheet of .themultiple carbon sheet device illustratedin Figures 5 and II. Thismultiple carbon device is formed of a sheet of paper 28 of greater widththan the record sheet. and has suitably mounted thereon a plurality ofcarbon sheets I0 so arranged that the record sheets may be stud endsprovides a positive stop for the carbon sheet device when the paperfeeds in through the typewriter machine under the platen said barengaging the platen and holding the carbon sheets from furthermovement,while the duplicate form sheets are pulled through the same in a mannerhereinafter described.

wardly and have closely arranged parallelly spaced vertical portions 82which are rigidly connected at their upper ends to a cross bar I! whichis here shown of angled formation to impart suiiicient rigidity.

A pair of grooved central guide rollers 24 Joined by a plate II arearranged upon the bar 38 centrally between the vertical portions-of therods 8 and another, pair of outer guide rollers 2i, coupled by suitablespacing plates 21 are mounted at the outer end of the bar 32, slotsbeing cut in the angle of the bar to permit the ends of the pins of theguide rollers I! to be secured therein at either end of the bar. A cordor chain a ll is threaded through each of the pairs of rollers 34 and 36so that the ends thereof hang downwardly. the outer end being providedwith a handle I. to be grasped by the operator. Thus by shifting theguide rollers it to either one end or the other of the bar 34, thehandled end of the cord may be placed convenient to the grasp of eithera left or right-handed operator. The other depending end is providedwith a spring clip 40 adapted to grip the ends of the duplicate forms.-The clip illustrated in detail in Figure 6 is provided with a broadplate 4| fitted with pins 42 to extend through the regular perforationsin the form sheets to thus hold the form sheets securely in alignment.When the sheets are not perforated a plain clip is used.

A plate 48 is supported between the upright parallel ends 32 of the bars8 and has mounted thereon a spring clip 44 which may be'used' forholding notes or memoranda in front of the opera or.

In the operation of this device the pack 44 of, folded form sheets isplaced upon the plate II. The free ends are threaded through themultiple carbon device described and are laid over'the guide plate 8,the upper holding guide bar ll having been removed.

After the paper has been drawn into position and inserted into thetypewriter, the bar III is placed in position with the weightedlongitudinal member 22 resting thereover and the clip 4| is placed inposition with the pins 42 engaging the perforations and as the typing'proceeds the multiple carbon device follows over the guide plate withthe multiple form, and the bar 26 engages the platen. The operator thenreleasu the pressure on the platen and pulls the handle end of the chainor cable depending from the bar 82. thereby drawing the forms upwardlyand sliding them through the multiple carbon device. A suitable stop onthe chain here shown as a detachable clip member 38' is adapted to bearranged so that when the forms are drawn Just the required distance toplace the carbon in position for the next form to be yped. the clip 82'engaging between the guide rollers I4 will arrest further movement. Itwill be noted'that the handle 39 which is preferably weighted will serveas a counterbalance to draw the advance end of the t p d sheets clear ofthe platen during typing.

It will be understood of course that when the platen pressure againstthe sheets is released they will slide easily around the typewriterplaten. The pressure is again restored after the sheets have been drawnthrough and the operator tears off the typed sheets and replaces theclip 40 on the next succeeding sheets and turns the platen backward,thus feeding the sheets including the interleaved carbon sheets back toa position ready for starting.

As the form sheets are turned backwards by the reversing of the movementof the platen they are forced upwardly under the roller end of theweighted bar 22 and they are held close to the surface of the guideplate by the contact pressure of the said bar 22.

In the form or the invention illustrated in Fig ures 4 and 12 the plate46 for guiding the form strip to the typewriter platen is formed with adeep depression 41 intermediate of its length which forms a pocket intowhich the form sheets may fold under the pressure exerted by the reversemovement of the platen. If this type of guide plate is'used theoverlying bar22 may be dispensed with, but a guide bar l8 will bemaintained to hold the sheets in proper alignment.

When the type of guide plate shown in Figures 4 and 12 is used therollers 48 for supporting said plate are mounted on the bracket ends ofan upright extension 49. The plate is thus free to tilt in alongitudinal direction pivoted on the supporting rollers, relieving theplaten from the support of said plate.

In the form of guide plate illustrated in Figure 14, the cross bar It!is dispensedwith and the plate 50 is provided with lugs to guide thesheets.

A flat coil spring 52 is housed in a casing 53 supported at the outerend of the plate 50 and extending therebelow and the end of this springconnects to a bar 54 corresponding with the bar 26 and provided withstuds at the ends to hold the carbon sheet device.

The frictional engagement of the form sheets with the carbon sheetsunder the pressure of the tension devices of the typewriter platen willdraw the carbon sheets through the platen in the typing operation anduncoil the spring 52. Upon the release of the platen tension devices thebackward pull of the spring 52 will draw the carbon sheets back to theiroriginal position so that the operator may then tear ofi the typedsheets and proceed at once with the typing of a further set. This springstrip maintains a sufficient tension to hold the form sheets and carbonssnugly against the plate 50 and when the platen is reversed the springautomaticallyrecoils and holds the sheets from buckling or becomingdis-arranged.

In the form shown in Figure 12 the form sheet packs are supported inangularly disposed holders 55 arranged immediately behind the basestructure and beneath the depression 41 of the guide plate 46. Thisarrangement will conserve in the space occupied when the typewritermachine is arranged upon a fiat desk or table.

A typ writer apparatus such as described may be utilized with anystandard typewriter as no change is required in the typewriter machine.The small light clip members 3 are secured at the edges of the guideplate 4 of the machine and the supplementary guide plate is pivotallyconnected therewith, but mounted independently of the typewriter on theroller pivot supports described. This supplementary guide plate beingmounted on its roller supports in a balanced arrangement does notinterfere with the manipulation of the typewriter carriage and it feedsthe paper strips to the typewriter carriage without requiring anyattention on the part of the operator.

The manipulation of the carbon sheet device between the "form sheetsisextremely simple and the operator very readily acquires the method ofusing the elevated means for pulling the form. sheets through the carbonholder.

It will be appreciated that with a carbon device as shown the backingsheet 29 extends free of the carbon sheets secured thereto and forms apocket 29', (see Figure 11) into which a single loose letterhead orinvoice sheet-X may be inserted so that the desired copies in continuousform may be obtained with the use of a lithographed sheet or a sheetfree of end perforations. If desired, extra copies may be made byinserting extra sheets of paper and carbons. This arrange! ment isextremely desirable and has hitherto not been possible on the presentknown types of billing machines or typewriter attachments.

Further, when it is desired to use the typewriter for ordinary purposesthe billing attachment may be disconnected by merely slipping the rods 5out of engagement with the clips 3 and the plate 6 may be moved backover the bar ill or rested upon the holder I I entirely out of the way.

Thedevice is neat and compact and can be furnished at extremely low costbut its combination with the typewriter very greatly enhancesthe'operating value of the machine.

What I claim as my invention is:-

1. In a typewriter attachment for the handling of continuous duplicateform sheets the combination with the typewriter carriage, of means forguiding said duplicate form sheets to the typewriter carriage pivotallyconnected thereto, said guiding -means presenting a smooth under surfaceextending from side to side, and means contacting directly with thesmooth under surface of said guide means for pivotally supporting saidguiding means intermediate of its length to move freely in the operationof the typewriter carriage.

2. In a typewriter attachment for the handling of continuousduplicateform sheets the combination with the typewriter carriage, ,of alight sheet metal guide plate for guiding said duplicate form sheets tothe typewriter carriage pivotally connected thereto and presenting asmooth contact surface on the underside extending from side to side, anda roller support mounted in a fixed position below said guide plate andengaging said smooth under contact surface intermediate of the length ofsaid guide plate and supporting said plate to travel freely with thelongitudinal movement of the typewriter and to pivot thereon in adirection lengthwise thereof to follow the vertical movement of thetypewriter carriage.

3. A typewriter attachment as claimed in claim 2 in which the rollersupport for pivotally supporting the guiding plate comprises a pair ofrollers mounted to rotate in the direction of travel of the typewritercarriage and arranged in transverse alignment to support the guide plateindividually or collectively, said guide plate being successivelyengageable with one or both of said rollers during its transverse travelto be continuously supported thereby.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said roller support comprisesa bar adjustably mounted back of the typewriter, a post mounted on eachend of said bar, and a roller journalled on each of said posts, saidposts supporting said roll- .riage, said clips each comprising a solidblock portion having means for clamping same to a part of the typewritercarriage, each block portion having a spring member forming with saidblock a spring clamp, a notch formed between the block and spring, meansfor guiding the duplicate form sheets to the typewriter having pivotextensions insertable in and removable from said notches by flexing saidspring. members, and means for pivotally supporting said guiding meansintermediate of its length while permitting said guide to move freelywith the typewriter carriage.

6. A deviceas claimed in claim 5 in which the said blocks and springmembers present adjacent surfaces converging toward said notches tofacilitate entry of the pivoticonnections of said guide member.

7 In a typewriter attachment for the handling of continuous duplicateform sheets the combination with the typewriter carriage and meanspivotally connected thereto for guiding the duplicate form sheets tosaid carriage, of a frame rigidly mounted clear of the carriageextending above said typewriter, and laterally shiftable means suspendedfrom said frame adapted to engage said form sheets and to draw sameupwardly and through said carriage to a deflned position.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the frame is provided with acentral guide; and a flexible cord dependent therefrom extends outwardlyand downwardly and is provided with means for gripping the form sheets.Said cord and the gripping means carried thereby being freely pendantfrom said guide to swing in unison with the form sheets as they aredisplaced in the movements of the carriage.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the frame is provided with afixed central pull cord guide and a guide removably mountable on theframe in either a left or right hand spaced relation to the centralguide to support the outward end of the flexible pull cord to the leftor right respectively of the central guide for the convenient grasp ofeither alleft or right handed operator. a

10. In a typewriter attachment for the handling of continuous duplicateform sheets, the combination with the typewriter carriage, of a plateextending rearwardly from the typewriter carriage, means carried by saidplate for guiding the duplicate form sheets to the carriage, and meansautomatically movable to exert a constant pressure on the form sheets tohold the same close to said guide plate in moving toward or from thecarriage to prevent buckling and the dis-arrangement of the register ofsaid form sheets.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10in which the automatically movablemeans comprises albar extending longitudinally of said guide plate andresting in extensive surface pressure contact on the form sheets toretain the same from buckling.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 having a bar extending transverselythereof at its outward end and forming a guide for said sheets, saidautomatically movable means comprising a bar hinged at one end to saidcross bar and extending forwardly toward the typewriter and resting onthe form sheets in extensive surface contact. said latter bar beingweighted to and exerting a constant flattening pressureon the formsheets to prevent buckling. s

13. In a typewriter attachment for handling duplicating sheets, thecombination with the typewriter carriage having a guide. plate, of athin sheet metal guide plate for said sheets, means pivotally connectingsaid guide plates in edge to edge relation. said second mentioned guideplate extending, upwardly and support members engaging the under surfaceof said sheet metal guide plate, and a holding plate pivotally attachedto the outer end of said sheet metal guide plate and extending beyondthepivotally connected end edge and overlapping the said guide plate of thecsrrisgesndserving to hold the sheets in close conformity with saidrespective guide plates.

14. In a typewriter attachment for handling duplicating sheets, thecombination with the typewriter carriage. of a guide member for saidsheets,

V means pivotally connecting said guide member to the carriage, androller contacts engageable with the under side of said guide member,said roller contacts being adjustable toward or away from the pivotalconnection of said guide member and carriage to effect a substantialbalancing of the weight of the guide member on the roller contacts andthereby relieve the carriage of additional weight, and means for lockingsaid roller contacts in adjusted position. 7

I 15. In a typewriter attachment for handling duplicating sheets, thecombination with the typewriter carriage, of a guidemember for saidsheets means pivotally connecting one end of the guide member with thecarriage, said guide member having a deep pocket formation adapted toaccommodate the sheets when they are backed up by reversal of thetypewriter platen, and roller support means contacting the underside ofsaid pocketed guide member at a point spaced from.

its pivotal connection with the carriage.

16. In a typewriter attachment for handling duplicating sheets, thecombination with the typewriter carriage, of a guide member for saidsheets operating in unison with the typewriter carriage, a pair ofupstanding bars rigidly supported clear of the typewriter carriage, saidbars being bowed outwardly to permit the transverse travel of the guidemember from an extreme left hand position to the extreme right handposition, the upper,

portions of said bars being spacedmore closely together, lateralextensions from the upper ends of said bars, a guide element centrallydisposed between the upper ends of. said bars, a flexible cord or chainextending through said guide ele-. ment and hanging loosely. therefrom,a clip member carried by the lower end of said hanging cord or chain forgripping the advance ends of the record sheets, a weighted handle membersecuredto the other end of said cord or chain, and means for selectivelysupporting the handled end of said cord or chain from either the left orright hand end extremities of said lateral extensions to suit eitherleft or right handed operators.

17. In a typewriter attachment for handling duplicating sheets, thecombination with the typewriter carriage, of a guide plate for saidsheets connected with the carriage having spaced slots therein at theouter end, a guide bar formed with laterally turned guide lugs to entersaid slots. means for detachably locking said guide lugs in the slotswhereby the bar may be readily removed to facilitate placing of theduplicating sheets in position, and a holding plate hinged to said barand resting on the sheets above the guide plate to prevent buckling andbeing removable with said guide bar.

a 18. A device as claimed in claim 16 in which a base is provided formounting rearwardlyof the typewriter, said base having uprightextensions bored vertically to adjustably and removably receive thelower ends of said bowed bars, and means for locking said bars in theiradjusted relation to said upright extensions.

19. In a typewriter attachment, the combination with the typewritercarriage, of guide means for continuous record sheets detachablyconnectfor other work.

ed with the carriage, a base member for mounting on the desk rearwardlyoi the typewriter,

upright bars rigidly and detachably secured to said base member andextending well above the carriage and clear thereof, flexible meanssuspended i'rom the top .of said bars and manually operable to drawupwardly on the typed sheets, adjustable means for limiting theoperation of said flexible means, and means detachably mounted on saidbase member for supporting a supply of theduplicating sheets, said guidemember, bars and sheet-supporting means being quickly demountable toclear the typewriter and desk ROBERT J. COPELAND.

